thumb|upright|View of Xintiandi.
thumb|upright|Location of the [[1st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|first Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in July 1921, Xintiandi.]]
Xintiandi (, <small>Shanghainese</small>: Shinthidi <small>lit.</small> "New Sky and Earth", <small>fig.</small> "New World") is an affluent car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai. Xintiandi now refers to the wider area centered around Madang Road which includes both pedestrian-only and motor traffic roads.
Overview
The district is composed of an area of reconstituted traditional mid-19th century shikumen ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleys, some adjoining houses which now serve as book stores, cafes and restaurants, and shopping malls. Most of the cafes and restaurants feature both indoor and outdoor seating. Xintiandi has an active nightlife on weekdays as well as weekends, though romantic settings are more common than loud music and dance places. It is considered one of the first lifestyle centers in China. It is also the most expensive place to live in China, with some apartments costing more than Tokyo, Singapore, New York and London. It is generally home to the Chinese elites and top executive expats or immigrants. The slogan of the area is "Let tomorrow meet yesterday at today in Shanghai".
Xintiandi is the location of the site of the first congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Also nearby are the Shikumen Open House Museum and the site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
thumb|Renovated shikumen lane in Xintiandi.
Redevelopment
In 1996, Shui On Group acquired 23 square blocks in the former French Concession area of Shanghai. This was part of a larger redevelopment project at southern Taipingqiao Road. including with Benjamin T. Wood and Nikken Sekkei International. The urban renewal is considered one of the first examples of the placemaking approach in China. It was a success both from a real estate business perspective and as a cultural phenomenon.